The issue of migrant returns will be high on Cyprus’ agenda when the island assumes the presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2026, deputy minister for migration Nikolaos Ioannides said on Friday.

At the same time, he highlighted that more than 10,000 migrants left Cyprus in 2024 while asylum applications came to less than 7,000, down 41 per cent compared with a year ago and even fewer than during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Aso, in light of the recent developments in Syria, Ioannides said that since December 9, over 1,000 people have withdrawn their applications for international protection or renounced their refugee and/or subsidiary protection status and around 500 Syrians have already left Cyprus.

He estimated that over time and once stability is achieved in Syria, the number of repatriates would increase.

Additionally, he said, the decrease in arrivals resulted in a significant drop in the number of people living in reception centres. There were now in total approximately 900 people at the three centres – Pournara and Kofinou and Limnes.

The deputy minister was speaking in an interview with the Macedonian News Agency, saying Cyprus wished to focus not just on the legislative framework under discussion in the bloc, but also new solutions and ways to develop strategic relations with third countries on returns.

The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum would be a highlight of Cyprus’ presidency, Ioannides said.

“We are working towards this and will work hard and methodically, as it is our long-standing position that such a thorny issue should be comprehensively managed by the EU,” he said.

Ioannides said Cyprus was looking forward to closer and more effective cooperation with the European Commission on the issue.

He referred to “the effective handling” by the government which had to Cyprus being in first place among the 27 EU in terms of departures but also in terms of managing the challenges, mainly the irregular migration flows from Turkey through the north of the island where the government of Cyprus cannot exercise control.

“The instrumentalisation of migration by foreign actors, including through irregular flows across the Green Line, creates security issues,” Ioannides said, adding that Cyprus’ response to these challenges was aligned with EU principles and included enhanced controls and streamlining of asylum procedures.

Regarding the tension in the wider Middle East region that fuels irregular migration, Ioannides said it was not only a humanitarian issue but also one of security “and therefore requires constant vigilance and preparedness”.

“Cyprus’ role is stabilising in the region. Our goal is to have a role in developments, so as to contribute either to the prevention or management of conflicts in order to avoid crises in our neighbouring states, the consequences of which will be negative for both Cyprus and the European Union and the other states in the region,” he added.